Claims by H.J. Heinz Company and other packaged goods firms that News Corp. is violating antitrust laws in the in-store promotion market have been granted class status by a federal judge.

Southern District Judge William Pauley said a class action was the proper choice for allegations that News Corp. abuses its 80 percent market share for supermarket signage, end-of-aisle displays, shelf-mounted displays, freezer displays and floor signage at some 52,000 retail stores.